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When it comes to connected devices, the futuristic dream of a being able to communicate with the objects in your life is not very far off. In fact, it’s already happening in several sectors and companies. R/GA, the agency behind Nike’s pioneering FuelBand, signaled its intentions to, well, accelerate this bridging of the digital and physical by launching Connected Devices Accelerator–a three-month intensive program for 10 tech startups, powered by Techstars methodology–earlier this year. The goal of the program is to build connected products and services while lending entrepreneurs R/GA’s expertise in business and brand consulting, product and services innovation, and marketing and communications. Now, after months of accepting submissions, R/GA has announced the 10 startups–spanning a diverse array of verticals including health care, the connected home, child care, retail, and navigation–that will take part in the accelerator. They are:
- Enertiv: Revolutionizing building energy management with real-time data.
- Footmarks: Transforming engagement in traditional retail with sensors that can detect consumers.
- Grove: Powering the urban farming revolution.
- Hammerhead Navigation: Heads-up navigation display for bicyclists with integrated social community.
- Keen Home: Developing intelligent devices for your home, starting with a connected air vent.
- KyteLabs: Consumer product that brings connectivity to everyday transactions.
- Owlet Baby Care: The first baby health monitor that tracks what really matters.
- ringblingz: A social notification platform that keeps you connected.
- QoL: Improving respiratory health and fitness through innovative devices.
- Qualia Health: Using data science to measure changes in overall health and improve lives.
Stephen Plumlee, chief operating officer, EVP, R/GA says the accelerator aims to support entrepreneurs where many falter. “Our experience has taught us that every company, from startup to Fortune 100, needs to simultaneously leverage business and brand strategy, product and service innovation, marketing, and advertising if they hope to create–and then launch–a successful new product,” he says. “In working with startups over the last few years, either through investment opportunities or partnering on various projects with clients, we realized that many promising startups fail because they do not have access to expertise in these vital disciplines. Because we often provide expertise in each of these disciplines to our clients and know it works, we wanted to provide the most promising startups we could find with that same experience.”
The decision to focus on connected devices for the first accelerator reflects what Nick Coronges, VP, technology and strategy at R/GA calls a mega shift towards the convergence of physical products and digital services. “Customers now expect more value, personalization, and data insights from the physical devices they interact with,” he says. “To create these deeper connections with customers, software companies like Amazon and Google are becoming hardware companies, and product brands like Nike are becoming platform and services brands. The world of connected devices is in its infancy, and we’re eager to contribute to its evolution.”
Companies accepted into the accelerator will receive a great deal of support in the development of their ideas. As part of the accelerator, each startup will receive up to $120,000 in funding by R/GA Ventures, workspace at R/GA’s New York campus, design and development support from the agency’s designers and developers who’ve built connected devices and services, and access to prototyping equipment. Entrepreneurs will also be mentored by an impressive list of industry leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and influencers. The startups will then get to present their projects at a special event at SXSWi in March, as well as to angel investors, select R/GA clients, and media at private Demo Day presentations in New York.
Beyond simply enabling the next generation of connected devices both Techstars and R/GA see a great opportunity for institutional growth. “There is a lot we’ll be able to take away from this accelerator, including how we can continue to stay nimble as we scale globally. This is also a great opportunity for our clients to get an inside look at how smaller companies innovate–there is a lot they can learn from this process,” says Plumlee.
“Our belief is to give first, and the education we get by expanding the network helps the success of everyone involved,” says David Brown, founder and president of Techstars.
Plumlee also adds that for R/GA, facilitating the Connected Devices Accelerator fits the spirit of the company. “[This] proves our devotion to learning by doing, and allows us the opportunity to give back to the entrepreneurial community where we got our start. The company’s first projects involved creating new technology to merge film and digital, and we’ve been devoted to innovation ever since.”


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VERNON HILLS – Hawthorn Mall will host a special Sensory Bunny event to give children with special needs and their families the opportunity to enjoy a visit and private photo session with the Easter Bunny.
The event will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. (before the mall opens) March 26 on the lower level in the Macy’s Court.
Reservations are required for the Sensory Bunny event and can be made at http://bit.ly/3kiM2wt (no walk-up appointments will be available).
Professional digital photo packages begin at $39.99.
To learn more, visit https://www.shophawthornmall.com/events/.

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‘Kotak Wealth Hurun – Leading Wealthy Women’ report is a data-driven attempt to analyze wealth creation among Indian women:
Kotak Wealth Management, a division of Kotak Mahindra Bank (Kotak), and Hurun India, which brings out the Hurun Rich List, which is a comprehensively evaluated list of the wealthiest individuals across the globe, have recently launched the 2nd edition of ‘Kotak Wealth Hurun – Leading Wealthy Women’, a compilation of the wealthiest women in India. The listing is based on the net worth of women as of 30 September 2020. The 2020 edition of the report focuses exclusively on women who play an active role in their family business, entrepreneurs, and professionals. The report is a data-driven attempt to understand wealth creation among Indian women and celebrate the success of the top 100 entrepreneurs, professionals, and businesswomen in India. The average wealth of the women on this list is about Rs27.25 billion.
TOPPERS: KEY HIGHLIGHTS
With a wealth of Rs548.50 billion, Roshni Nadar Malhotra, 39, of HCL Technologies is the wealthiest woman on the list, followed by Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (67) of Biocon having Rs366 billion and Leena Gandhi Tewari of USV with Rs213.40 billion. Eight $ billionaires are on the list, while 38 have wealth of Rs10 billion and above. The cumulative wealth of women wealth creators on the list is at Rs2.72 trillion.
As much as 12% of the list are those born under the zodiac sign Cancer and 11% under Scorpio. There are 8 Padma awardees and the average age of those featuring on the list is 53 years.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has the highest number of social media followers among the women finding their place in the list. She has 1.5 million followers on Twitter. Fashion designer Anita Dongre comes second with 390,000 followers.
The report is compiled based on the net worth of all women entrepreneurs, professionals, businesswomen, and investors as on 30 September 2020, when the exchange rate of the Indian rupee to the US$ was at Rs73.57. The list considers only Indians, defined as born or brought up in India and who are actively managing their businesses or are self-made.
Kotak Wealth and Hurun India claim they conducted in-depth research to understand the trends and direction of wealth creation indicated by the women featured on the list. In addition to ranking the women entrepreneurs and professionals by wealth, they have also analyzed the source of wealth, the industries these women belong to, where they live, etc. The source of wealth includes both inherited and self-made wealth. For unlisted companies, the valuation is based on a comparison with listed equivalents using prevailing industry multiples such as price to earnings, price to sales, EV to sales, EV to EBITDA, and other methodologies, including discounted cash flow, Tobin’s Q, and so on.
Hurun India has ascertained the level of activity based on parameters, which include whole-time director, executive director or managing director, former whole-time director, executive director or managing director; and a person who is mentioned as key managerial personnel based on remuneration; responsible for attending a board meeting or any functional activities.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is the wealthiest self-made woman in the list. Of the 31 self-made women in the list, 6 are professional managers. With a wealth of Rs102 billion, Arista Network’s Jayshree Ullal, 59, is the richest professional manager. The financial services industry dominates with 4 out of the 6 professional managers in the list working in banking/ finance and 1 in insurance.
In the self-made category, within the financial services space, Renu Sud Karnad of HDFC with Rs9 billion wealth is at the 13th rank; followed by Padmaja Gangireddy of Spandana Sphoorty Financial Services with Rs6.90 billion at 15th rank, Shanti Ekambaram of Kotak Mahindra Bank with Rs2.30 billion at 25th rank, Shikha Sharma, formerly MD and CEO of Axis Bank with Rs1.5 billion at 29th rank, and Vibha Padalkar of HDFC Life Insurance with Rs1.4 billion at 30th rank.
There are 6 women entrepreneurs from the startup ecosystem featuring in the list, of which 2 have built their companies into Unicorns – Falguni Nayar of Nykaa and Divya Gokulnath of Byju’s – The Learning App. Four women in the list aged 40 and below are from the startup ecosystem (having incorporated their companies on or after 2010), while 19 women are aged 40 or below. Kanika Tekriwal of JetSetGo, Anjana Reddy of Universal Sportsbiz, and Vidhi Shanghvi of Sun Pharma are the youngest women on the list.
The pharmaceutical sector leads the list with 13 followed by textiles, apparel & accessories with 12 and healthcare with 9 women featuring in the list. As many as 19 women from this list also feature in the Hurun India Rich List 2020, and 6 women have made it to the Hurun Global Rich List 2020, which features 68 self-made women entrepreneurs from around the world, of which 3 are from India – Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw of Biocon, Radha Vembu of Zoho and Jayshree Ullal of Arista Networks. With 4 entrants, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise produced the most number of women leaders on the list, followed by Godrej Group which contributed three entrants on the list. The primary philanthropic causes that the women identified with are education and healthcare. Four women on the list find a place on the Hurun India Philanthropy List 2020.
As one turns attention to India’s leading wealthy women, it would be important to note that women-led enterprises already experience significant barriers to entry including limited funding opportunities. The challenges faced by them are far greater, creating a disproportionate impact especially during the covid pandemic.
Oisharya Das, CEO – Wealth Management at Kotak Mahindra Bank, says: “One of the defining developments over the last couple of decades is the giant strides that women have taken as wealth creators. The 2020 report reveals an interesting and inspiring trend of more and more trailblazing women leading the way and scripting success stories across a wide variety of industries and encompassing cities and towns pan India. For India to achieve its aspirational target to be a $5 trillion economy by 2025, women will continue to play a crucial role as wealth creators in order to achieve that goal.”
She sees 3 parallel and exciting trends at play. The first is the set of women who are custodians of the family wealth, leading the family business as they seek to preserve and grow its legacy. The second is the exciting new breed of entrepreneurs who are creating new wealth and the third is the enterprising group of women professionals. She says each woman’s story and the challenges faced by her are unique; however, what these women have in common is the drive, commitment, and passion to succeed.
INSPIRATION TO MORE WOMEN
Anas Rahman Junaid, MD & Chief Researcher, Hurun India, describes the women in the list as the most successful women leaders in India. “Their stories deserve to be shared and studied. What is it that makes them successful? How did they do it? I hope this list can inspire more women to become entrepreneurs, run businesses or lead companies,” says he.
He also observes that women-led businesses are the No 1 harbinger to achieve inclusion at the workforce level. It is rather obvious that only if gender parity is achieved, can India timely register the 5 trillion GDP mark and women-led creation directly improves women employment, and correspondingly that of families and society says he.
“Inclusion of women, who represent 50% of India’s population, cuts across members of the community. Wealth creation by women benefits gender equality and gender equality benefits everyone! We truly hope this list will inspire other young women to pursue careers of their own,” he adds.


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Hunt for the new Easter Egg Holiday NBA Dunk and NFL Blitz cards and get a Damian Lillard Reward in Dunk and a Patrick Mahomes Reward in Blitz. These new holiday-exclusive designs feature 20 of the top rookies and stars in the NBA and NFL. Collect all 20 special Easter cards by April 9 to earn the two reward cards. All Easter digital cards will be numbered once the packs retire next week.
Make sure to keep an eye on your notifications for the Easter chase as well as a massive Holiday Sale coming. Get ready to stock up some extra coins, extra packs and exclusive Holiday cards. A new slate of NBA contests is now live as well. Enter our HoF contest for a chance to take home a physical box of 2020-21 NBA Hoops Basketball.
2020 Panini One Football FOTL Drops into Blitz
Head to the NFL Blitz app now to snag a pack of 2020 Panini One Football FOTL. The last few FOTL drops have sold out in just a few hours. 2020 Panini One Football FOTL packs will only be available in limited quantities before the official Panini One release in the coming days. Each 1st Off The Line Panini One pack includes a bonus FOTL-exclusive Black 1/1 variation.


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OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) – Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced Wednesday that his office is suing Kroger, Albertsons and Rite Aid, arguing that their pharmacy chains act as the “last barrier” against opioid over-prescription. failed to function as intended.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in King County Superior Court, is the latest effort by Ferguson and other U.S. attorneys general to hold businesses accountable for promoting prescription opioids, The Seattle Times reports. .
According to the lawsuit, more than 12,000 Washingtonians will die of an opioid overdose between 2006 and 2021.
“During the opioid crisis over the past decade, these companies ignored federal regulations, put profit over safety, and intentionally oversupplied opioids in our state,” Ferguson told a news conference in Seattle.
The attorney general is suing the companies under state law, accusing them of violating state consumer protection and public nuisance laws.
The Associated Press sent messages to the three companies seeking comment.
“The people of Washington count on pharmacies to be responsible,” Ferguson said. “They depend on it for their health. Pharmacies play an important role as the last barrier to prevent overprescribing of controlled substances or prescription drugs. But in many cases, this is not the case.”
Ferguson said the companies have paid fines for violating federal regulations related to opioid prescriptions, but the fines “are not sufficient to obtain meaningful accountability.” They said pharmacies helped fuel an illegal market for opioids by oversupplying the drugs.
Ferguson also said Wednesday that he signed multi-state resolutions with CVS, Walgreens and Walmart pharmacies, as well as the Teva and Allergan pharmaceutical companies, for their role in curbing opioid use. The Attorney General’s Office estimated that the state could receive $434.4 million once those proposals are finalized.
That money should be used to combat the opioid epidemic and would be split between state and local governments.
The recent resolutions are in addition to hundreds of millions of dollars secured by the state after legal battles against opioid manufacturers and distributors.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Finding a workable combination of travel, accommodation, food, activities and holiday treats is the trick with holiday budgeting
London (PRWEB UK) 15 September 2009
With schools around the country now starting back for their new term, the summer holiday season has officially come to a close. 'Staycation' has been this year's buzz word with Britons reportedly staying at home in anticipation of cheaper holidays and a 'barbeque summer'. Massive incentives to head abroad are still being offered by the overseas travel industry, however. According to world-wide hotels specialist Hotels4u.com, hotel deals for under £10 per person per night could be just the thing to tempt holiday-makers away to warmer climes this winter.
The Office of National Statistics recorded overseas travel by UK residents as down by 17% during the first half of the year. In these cash-strapped times the general cost of holidaying has been an obvious driver for the staycation trend, as has the promise of good weather in the UK this summer. To be truly cost effective, though, a good staycation has to offer value across a number of key elements.
"Finding a workable combination of travel, accommodation, food, activities and holiday treats is the trick with holiday budgeting," says Steven Moore, Head of eCommerce at Hotels4u.com. "It may be that this is on your doorstep, but it shouldn't be assumed. For example, staying at one of the many all inclusive hotels in Turkey where accommodation, food and a range of activities are covered all in one hit, could be an option. If you're getting all that for just £10 per person per night, and with the promise of pleasant temperatures and sunshine as well, then you're likely to be onto a winner."
Year-round sunshine destinations, such as Egypt and Turkey, are all offering deals on hotel bookings this winter. These two countries in particular benefit from their location just outside the Euro-zone. Holiday-makers can get more for their money at the moment by converting their GB pounds to Turkish lira or Egyptian pounds. Meanwhile, choosing an all inclusive option helps to make budgeting more manageable, as well as potentially making the holiday more affordable.
Prices for all inclusive hotels in Turkey can be found starting as low as £10 per person per night this October*. Meanwhile, all inclusive hotels in Egypt can be booked for under £18 per person per night for two people sharing a three star hotel room in Sharm el Sheikh*. For those after an even cheaper option, bed and breakfast options at a four star resort in Sharm el Sheikh this November can be booked for just over £9 per person per night*.
For more information on the latest deals and cheap hotels in top winter destinations visit http://www.hotels4u.com
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First Look at the Air Jordan 12 Low Golf “Taxi”
Revealed by @zSneakerheadz, the pair is expected to drop in true-to-OG fashion, save the underfoot tread. This news follows confirmation of a “Suede Toe Taxi” Jordan 12 for October 9th this year and is but one of a handful of OG-like releases that have surfaced over the past five years. The release of these Lows and the Suede Toes does indicate that a full-blown retro of the OG Mid may be put on the back burner for a few more years.
The Air Jordan 12 Low Golf “Taxi” will be hitting the stores on 25th February 2022 via Nike’s webstore.
For Further Updates
A Blunt Story Launches Sustainable Sandals with UNCRUDE and UNWASTE
A BLUNT STORYTM, an up-and-coming name in footwear, has now come up with sandals made from waste plastics and petroleum derived petrochemicals, discarded without a second thought in the fashion and footwear industry. The brand believes it is time to speak up against the over…


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Android is making major advancements in the battle for mobile device supremacy in the field service market. Android gained a 62 percent of the overall market share of the mobile market in 2013 — and doesn't show any signs of slowing down anytime soon. The biggest advantage the Android OS has over the competition lies in the sheer number of devices that can use the OS. When it comes to price, Android devices cost less than any of the major competitor’s devices.
In a recent Field Technologies Online interview, Xplore Technologies, which just launched its first Android tablet, listed some of the benefits of Android OS. “Android offers a flexible, cost effective option for enterprise deployment. The operating system has rapidly matured, and has become a stable platform that will only continue to improve.” Xplore also points out Android has an open architecture that allows for customization, more flexibility in configuration deployment and management over competitors, and it allows IT departments to develop and manage internal apps. Xplore added, “We are also seeing more applications written for Android in field services, and more trials are being set up in the military space. This is particularly interesting given the fact that before now, Android has been nonexistent in this industry.”
Competition remains for Android, however. BlackBerry has taken great strides to bolster its offerings for field service applications, including the ability to monitor product bulletins, service trends, repair workarounds, and ticket updates. When assessing device security, BlackBerry offers one of lowest security risks compared to the other operating systems. Windows and Apple also offer low malware attack rates. In addition, the Windows OS provides a dynamic interface and the ability for users to customize its Live Tiles, and Apple iOS is known for its easy-to-use and intuitive interface.
In her article “Will Android Soon Dominate the Mobile Field Service Market” for Business2Community, Gina Matteucci points out your clients could be considered the real winners in the battle: “While the constant tug-of-war game between Android and other operating systems can seem overwhelming to keep up with, it is actually good for your service organization. Competition between software companies keeps costs down and amps up innovation so consumers receive the most creative solutions. Software companies duking it out for the top spot result in better, more affordable hardware and software for everyone.”


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KFC, the chicken division of Yum Brands Inc., is closing its dining rooms and shifting to off-premise sales only as of Thursday, the company said Wednesday.
Yum’s other two quick-service brands, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, announced dining room closures on Monday.
“Our dining rooms remain open for to-go/carryout only,” Kevin Hochman, president of KFC U.S., said in an emailed note to guests. “You can order at the front counter and take your food to go, or you can order online at KFC.com and pick up your meal at the designated area at the front counter. If you don’t want to leave your car, our drive thru will continue to service you, too.”
KFC announced Friday that it would offer free delivery across the U.S. through April 26 via kfc.com, Grubhub.com or Seamless.com.
Customers picking up their meal can order online at kfc.com and pick up in the restaurant from the designated area at the front counter.
In a CNBC “Squawk on the Street” interview Wednesday morning, David Gibbs, CEO of Yum Brands, said his brands are offering contactless delivery and workers are wearing gloves to assure the customers of food safety.
KFC said it also was implementing tamper-evident seals “so that customers’ food travels safely.” Grubhub customers can also select the option for “contact-free delivery” at checkout.
KFC also said that two weeks ago it increased the frequency of cleaning and sanitizing throughout its restaurants to hourly, particularly around high-touch areas.
“In addition, you may notice that more of our team members are wearing gloves for their protection and yours,” Hochman said in his letter to customers.
“As always, team members who feel sick are advised to stay at home,” the company said Wednesday, “Further, KFC is committed to paying company-owned restaurant team members for their scheduled or regularly scheduled hours if they are sick, required to self-quarantine, or they cannot work because a restaurant temporarily closes.”
Yum’s KFC division, as of Dec. 31, had 24,104 units globally, of which about 17%, or more than 4,000, are in the United States. Yum is based in Louisville, Ky.
Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]
Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless
For our most up-to-date coverage, visit the coronavirus homepage.


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Elon Musk’s judgment to discontinue to accept bitcoin as payment over environmental matters has been well-received by a few of Tesla Inc’s investors, giving a warning to corporate matches pondering a dabble with the cryptocurrency. The Tesla boss tweets, which had helped drive some of the gains in bitcoin earlier triggered a 17% slide in the value of the cryptocurrency when he said his company’s customers would no longer be able to use bitcoin to buy its cars.
Now, it’s been revealed by Forbes that shares of Tesla have fallen more than 15% this week, with Elon’s net worth dropping by 20.5 billion dollars to around 145.5 billion dollars, leaving him as the third richest man on the planet. Following Elon’s performance, his companion Grimes shared her admiration for his hosting duties, writing: “So proud of my beautiful E, but he killed it.” Grimes even made a surprise appearance as Princess Peach during a sketch on the show.
Cryptocurrency transactions processed by including them in some blocks where they are saved it. Switching how this is done could bring many advantages to the network. The lower block time – blocks could be created more often, and transactions could be processed more swiftly. A big block size would allow more transactions to fit into a single block. And with lower fees, transactions would be cheaper. These changes have their downsides too. With a shorter block time and a big block size, the processing power, as well as the memory required to run the network, would increase. It potentially decreases Dogecoin’s decentralization by forcing network maintenance into the hands of a less number of people with larger resources.
The company stated that through this transaction, “DOGE has proven to be a fast, reliable, and cryptographically secure digital currency that will operate when traditional banks can’t and are sophisticated to finance a commercial Moon mission wholly. It has opted as the unit of account for the entire lunar business between SpaceX and Geometric Energy Corporation. It sets a model for future missions to the Moon and Mars.”


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POCO is launching a new hearable called POCO Pods, which are wireless earbuds, in India soon. Before the official release, a leak revealed the possible launch date and pricing details.
According to a reliable source, 91Mobiles, the POCO Pods TWS will be launched in India on July 28, 2023. The leak surfaced on July 21, and teasers about the earbuds may be released by the company soon. It’s likely that the earbuds will be revealed alongside the new 6-numbered series smartphones.
So, the leaked information suggests that the POCO Pods will be sold in India with a price tag ranging from 1,500 to 2,000 INR, making them affordable wireless earphones.
The earbuds’ design was previously leaked, revealing a dual-tone color scheme with yellow accents on the charging case and earbuds’ tips, while the main body and case are matte black. The overall design is similar to Apple AirPods.
This isn’t the first time the POCO Pods were leaked; they were spotted in a previous leak in January 2023.
Stay tuned for updates on the POCO Pods TWS as more information becomes available.


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After nearly 20 years based in Terminal 2, Air New Zealand will have a new home at Los Angeles International Airport. In early 2014, the airline will move to the Tom Bradley International Terminal, which is currently undergoing a $1.7 billion makeover. In a first for the airline, Air New Zealand has also been appointed to design and operate a brand-new Star Alliance lounge in the terminal.
The terminal move will enable passengers to access better facilities when arriving or departing Los Angeles and also while in transit. Passengers transiting through Los Angeles on NZ1 and NZ2 will no longer be stuck in a small transit lounge. Instead they will be able to clear a more efficient customs processing facility and, then, make use of 180,000 square feet of dining, shopping, retail and passenger amenities while they await their onward journey.
The Tom Bradley International Terminal upgrade will add 18 new gates and a new dining and retail precinct. The project will be completed in stages over the next two years.
The new Star Alliance Lounge, designed in conjunction with international architecture firm, Gensler, will be used by eight Star Alliance partner airlines that also operate out of the Tom Bradley terminal including Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and Swiss Air.
This larger and better equipped work and relaxation space will replace Air New Zealand’s existing Los Angeles based lounge in Terminal 2.
Air New Zealand’s general manager of the Americas, Roger Poulton, said the move will make a big difference to the overall passenger experience when traveling via Los Angeles.
“The new terminal facilities have been designed to accommodate 30 percent more passengers an hour, so our customers can look forward to faster boarding and disembarking, more efficient customs and immigration processing and a far better dining and retail experience,” said Poulton. “Our customers will enjoy the new lounge which will be three times the size of the existing facility with different spaces to suit customer needs from a bar area for socializing to a library space for some quiet time. A special feature will be the outdoor terrace with views over the northern runway towards the Hollywood Hills.”


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BEIJING, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- China's old-for-new car scheme is gaining momentum after the authorities raised the subsidy levels at the start of this year, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) announced Tuesday .
In the first eight months, a total of 210,000 automobiles were sold under the program, 690 percent up from last year on a monthly basis, the MOC said in a statement on its official website.
The figures have fueled speculation that the trade-in scheme could be extended and the subsidies raised as the government seeks to improve energy efficiency.
Experts attributed the surge to the government's move in January to raise the original subsidy levels ranging from 3,000 yuan (444.7 U.S. dollars) to 6,000 yuan to the current band of 5,000 to 18,000 yuan.
The added subsidy had proved effective as it boosted consumer spending of 25.3 billion yuan on new cars by granting subsidies of 2.95 billion yuan from January to August, said the statement.
In August alone, the government had issued a total of 340 million yuan in subsidies to participants of the program who traded in their old cars and bought 24,000 new ones, up 82 percent from July, said the MOC.
The scheme was rolled out by the MOC and the Ministry of Finance last June as part of the government's efforts to stimulate domestic consumption amid the global downturn and to eliminate energy-wasting vehicles.
However, the program initially got a lukewarm reception from consumers who could generally sell their old cars for more than the value of the government trade-in program, said Luo Lei, deputy secretary general of the China Automobile Dealers Association (CADA).
In the six months after the scheme was initiated, only 12,000 cars were sold under the trade-in program with 100 million yuan in subsidies generating new spending of 1.8 billion yuan.
Even it gained pace, the trade-in scheme fell far short of reaching the pre-set goal of eliminating a million old cars with subsidies of 5 billion yuan, said Luo.
In June, the authorities extended the replacement program from May 31 to Dec. 31, in a move to accelerate the elimination of high-emission and fuel-guzzling vehicles and stimulate domestic consumption.
As the trade-in program becomes more effective, experts expect the authorities to further extend the scheme or introduce similar ones when it expires at the end of this year.
Luo said China still needed subsidy programs, which had contributed to the drive by the government to boost rural and urban consumption to push up overall economic growth.
In recent years, the trade-in offers, along with tax rebates for rural buyers of domestic appliances and tax breaks on fuel-efficient cars, have helped sustain retail sales.
China's retail sales of consumer goods in the first eight months this year hit 9.75 trillion yuan, up 18.2 percent over the same period last year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Saturday.
Luo said China also needed such programs to raise the energy efficiency of its economy as it was under pressure to reach its target of improving energy efficiency by 20 percent between 2005 and 2010.
In the first half this year, China's consumption of energy relative to economic output rose by 0.09 percent from the same period last year after it had reduced energy use by 15.6 percent relative to economic output from 2005 to 2009.
The subsidy levels might be raised further as they were still lower than those in the United States or the European Union where consumers could get a discount of about 3,800 U.S. dollars if they traded in their old cars, Luo said.


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Nike LeBron 20 “All-Star” Coming Soon: Photos
LeBron James has truly turned heads this past year with the Nike LeBron 20. This is considered to be one of his best signature shoes in quite some time. Overall, it seems like the low-top nature of this shoe is what people appreciate the most about it.
These past few months have been filled with new colorways. Although some may be fatigued by this, there are others who are eager to get new versions of the shoe. After all, consumers tend to wait for the colorways that truly speak to them and their personalities.
Nike LeBron 20 “All-Star”
The latest Nike LeBron 20 to be unveiled has been dubbed “All-Star.” This is a shoe that will be coming out closer to the big game that will feature the NBA’s biggest stars. Based on the images below, you can see that this colorway features a unique detail that isn’t found on other Nike LeBron 20s.
Firstly, this shoe begins with a blue and white knit upper. Secondly, the midsole is pink with some etched-in details near the front toe. As for the unique detail, there is a white backward swoosh on the side. This makes for a great look that will absolutely turn some heads.
There will be various other colorways of the Nike LeBron 20 throughout the year. However, this is definitely one of the more impressive ones we have seen thus far. Hopefully, we continue to get more stuff like this before the LeBron 21 arrives.
It appears as though this shoe is slated to drop on February 16th for a price of $200 USD. Let us know what you think of these gorgeous kicks, down in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for all of the latest news and updates from around the sneaker world.


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LONDON (MarketWatch) -- DaimlerChrysler dcx DAI, +3.82% said it's selling its remaining 12.4% stake in Mitsubishi Motors, which will lift 2005 financial income by around 500 million euros. DaimlerChrysler said the deal will be done by the end of November at the latest.
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A bit of Bavaria is coming to Colerain this weekend when the Germania Society hosts its annual Christkindlmarkt Christmas market.
The self-described "oldest and most authentic German Christmas market" in the region — it started in 1998 — is modeled after European holiday markets, with cups of glühwein (aka hot, mulled wine) and plenty of vendors set up in tents and booths.
Imported goods ranging from German bier steins and cuckoo clocks to nutcrackers and rotating pyramid candle holders will be for sale, interspersed with arts and crafts from local makers.
If you get hungry, there will be cabbage rolls, mock turtle soups and some "sinful pastries and candies," says the Germania Society.
Kids can visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, St. Nikolaus or the Christkind (a baby Jesus-type character with wings) — or avoid the evil Krampus. There will also be a lantern parade at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
Krampus (from local group Krampuslauf Zinzinnati) will only be at the market from 6-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, but other characters will be there all weekend.
Read CityBeat's interview with Krampuslauf Zinzinnati for what to expect of the mythical furry, horned goat-demon.
The Germania Society's Christkindlmarkt takes place 5-10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6; and noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 7. Admission is $5 and free for those 12 and under or for retired/active military.
3529 W. Kemper Road, Colerain. More details and a full schedule are available at germaniasociety.com/christkindlmarkt.
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hubbae.ae, a global e-commerce platform, has announced its entry into the food and beverage market with the aim to support restaurants and eateries across the UAE by eliminating the high costs involved in third-party transactions seen by other delivery giants in the market. At a time when restaurants across the globe are facing huge financial struggles in the face of COVID-19, Hubb is looking to change the future of food order-and-delivery, by providing the industry with a more sustainable business model that does not eat into restaurants revenue.
With several food delivery giants charging a commission fee of 30-35% per transaction, Hubb believes there is a need for a new approach. To provide a solution for restaurants all over the UAE, Hubb offers a cost-effective option through a minimal monthly subscription fee of AED 50 (until 31.12.2021, where subscription charges will be 100 AED there-after), with no added commission. Plus, until 15th September 2020, restaurants can sign-up for free.
For a small monthly fee, restaurants can enjoy a platform that acts as a ‘meeting place’ between restaurants and customers while also creating a space where restaurants can distribute menus, dishes, ingredients, and more by simply downloading the terminal and subscribing to HUBB. As well as charging high commission fees, food aggregators also hold onto valuable customer data, making it difficult for restaurants to market directly to customers. Hubb encourages restaurants to build long-term relationships with customers, rather than seeing them as simply a ‘transaction’ through a third-party portal, whilst also providing the necessary marketing tools to stand out from the crowd.
Restaurants that sign up to Hubb will have the option of using their own delivery drivers (to ensure all profit goes to them), or after the 15th September, Hubb will provide restaurants with a third-party food delivery service option to provide a convenient and accessible service for all. In the making since 2013, Hubb has been designed to provide a fresh approach to the e-commerce industry, having already received over 3.3m subscription sign-ups worldwide, across a range of industries including property, F&B, motors, jobs and more.
Anastasia El Hage, Founder, and CEO commented, “There is no doubt that food delivery apps and aggregators open the doors to a whole new realm of clientele for restaurants across the city and beyond. However, the current model is not sustainable, with mediators eating into a huge percentage of restaurants’ profits. In the wake of the global pandemic, independent restaurants, in particular, are struggling to turn a profit and are looking for more cost-effective ways to reach their customers – especially via online food delivery services and home delivery services. Our mission is to endorse and help all businesses, whether big or small, to grow, meet their customers’ demands, and enjoy a higher percentage of their profits by registering with us at a minimal cost per month.”


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When Disney + will arrive
Disney + has been an immediate success during its launch in some territories at the end of 2019, and has since extended its market to places like Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, which has earned it even more viewers.
Disney + is available on a wide range of platforms, including iPhone, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, PlayStation 4 and Roku, but a remarkable place where you can not catch up with emissions like The mandalorien is the Nintendo Switch. Although the switch is not the first platform to which most people think to watch their favorite shows, its easy portability would make an excellent choice for some displacement with Disney +. It left a lot of people wondering if Disney Plus will ever happen on Nintendo Switch, and if so, when?
Disney + does it come to Nintendo Switch?
The good news for Switch owners who want their dose of Disney classics on the console of their choice is that a Disney Plus launch on Switch is very likely to happen in the future. It’s not just a wishy wish – Disney itself has already suggested that it would bring its new streaming service to the Nintendo Hybrid Console before the start of the service.
During a presentation for investors before the release of Disney +, Disney announced on which platform the streaming service would be available at launch and also shared an image with some of these platforms. With confirmed platforms like Playstation 4 and Chromecast, the image included Nintendo Switch. At the time, Disney said he hoped to have Disney + on the Switch in the future, but that was not going so far as to say that he already had an agreement with Nintendo.
The Nintendo Switch already has streaming video Hulu and YouTube, so it is clearly not a technical limitation that prevents Disney + from staying on the console. It is likely that Nintendo and Disney are waiting to conclude an agreement that works for both companies, and given the protection they can bring to their properties, it can also explain why it takes more time to get Disney + on Switch only for other platforms.
In relation: Where to find Nintendo Switch in stock
The bad news is that no one knows when Disney + will be available on the Nintendo Switch, assuming it happens. The absence of concrete details is not a reason to give up hope. Disney has been slow enough with Disney + deployment, and it still plans to expand the service in the future. Disney + was launched on November 12, 2019 in some territories, including the United States and Australia, but did not enter several European countries such as Germany and Austria on March 24, 2020. It should be launched in France on April 7 and move to other territories in the summer of 2020.
Although nothing of this necessarily means that Disney + arrives on more platforms, it means that Disney is actively looking for ways to put its service on more screens. Plus Disney + has potential viewers, plus an agreement with Disney could start looking for Nintendo as well.


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Millions of people forced to work out of the office during the pandemic took on new projects at home and Home Depot is supplying a lot of the DIY material they need.
At Home Depot stores open at least a year, sales surged a remarkable 25% in the U.S. during the second quarter, the Atlanta company reported Tuesday.
Overall revenue hit $38.05 billion, far exceeding the $34.94 billion Wall Street was expecting, according to a Zacks Investment Research survey. The company easily topped last year’s revenue of $30.84 billion for the three months ended Aug. 2.
Sales at stores open at least a year, a key indicator of a retailer’s health, climbed 23.4%, globally, trailing only the massive surge in comparable-store sales in the U.S. The overall comparable-store sales were almost twice the 12.2% increase that industry analysts had projected.
People have taken on DIY projects at a frenzied pace after being forced out of the office and after a pandemic-induced lull, demand for new houses is ramping up fast.
“We can’t really extrapolate current performance to future performance. What we do know is the home has never been more important to the customer,” Chief Executive Officer Craig Menear said on the earnings call, CNBC reported. “We’re all spending lots of time there, we’re seeing things that need to be done or things that you want to be done. There is additional wear and tear and we’re clearly seeing the customer engaged in a very strong way.”
Home Depot Inc. earned $4.33 billion, or $4.02 per share, in the quarter, which was also far stronger than the per-share projections of $3.70 from analysts. A year earlier it earned $3.48 billion, or $3.17 per share.
“The massive shifts in spending that we are seeing will remain fairly similar for the foreseeable future until we have a reliable healthcare solution for COVID-19,” RBC capital Markets analyst Scott Ciccarelli wrote in a note to clients, Reuters reported.
However, Ciccarelli warned investors that Home Depot’s current pace of sales growth would be difficult to top next year.


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That should ultimately be good for markets. How China's economy performed in Q4 2022. According to the official data, GDP growth slowed to 4 y/. China'sgig workers pay a heavy price for the country's zero-Covid and office buildings, factories, and hardware markets were closed. Growing fears of China Evergrande defaulting rattled global markets on Monday as investors worried about the potential impact on the wider. Often, you'll find the gigantic ones with white stalks and large, dark green leaves. A well-stocked Chinese or Asian market should have many bok choy. This dirty money is used for scams and darknet market operations, such as drug trafficking. But despite the big numbers, the volume of. Yamasa is another large, well-known Japanese mass-market soy sauce However, unlike Japanese dark soy sauce, Chinese dark soy sauce has a. China's developers are the single biggest group of distressed borrowers in the global bond market today. China's government will probably.
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Often, you'll find the gigantic ones with white stalks and large, dark green leaves. A well-stocked Chinese or Asian market should have many bok choy. Trade tensions are on the rise, spooking markets in East and West. tariffs barriers being raised in other countries, including in Europe and China. The effective coal-fired power tariff also went up on the back of a narrowed market price discount, a slight on-grid tariff increase in July. By T Meng dark web market links Existing Research on the Sharing Economy. The sharing dark web market links economy is based on the principle of sharing access to products and services in peer-to-peer (P2P) markets. Many of the traders were Chinese, Lebanese, and Indian expats, 2022 Huayou controlled twenty-one per cent of the global cobalt market. Beijing stands to lose valuable markets for its goods in both if it is seen to be acting as an accomplice or an apologist for Putin. Ukraine. China's developers are the single biggest group of distressed borrowers in the global bond market today. China's government will probably.
She co-chaired an International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament. Chowles said the NCA had dark markets china challenges with White’s use of encryption. Design How photography is bringing justice to war-torn Colombia Co. When you see links on the Internet that point to websites that are selling weapons, drugs, dark markets china and other illegal items, they are in fact links that point back to the DarkNet marketplace. That is an individual admin site, dedicated exclusively to guns. So how can law enforcement agencies (LEA) not only find these dark web marketplaces and their administrator but keep their eye on the constant reincarnations of these sites, making it more difficult for future crimes to be executed? Photo Matthew Evans, Adrian Kali Turner at arrivals for BAD TEACHER Premiere, The Ziegfeld Theatre, New York, NY June 20, 2011. It is referred to as that because of the "layered" approach to relays on the Tor Browser.
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Apple to End Aperture Development
Apple is going to end development of the photo editing Mac app Aperture, says The Loop. Instead, Apple is going to replace it with a new OS X Photos app that will come with Yosemite. Apple announced the new Photos app at WWDC this year, but never said anything about their other photo apps, like Aperture. In a statement from Apple, they said that:
With the introduction of the new Photos app and iCloud Photo Library, enabling you to safely store all of your photos in iCloud and access them from anywhere, there will be no new development of Aperture. When Photos for OS X ships next year, users will be able to migrate their existing Aperture libraries to Photos for OS.
At this point there is no info on Apple's site about the new photos app so we currently don't know much about what the app will do or look like. When more info comes out about it we will be sure to let you know.


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B&Q and Screwfix owner Kingfisher said wet weather, weak consumer confidence and currency movements sent its annual profits and sales falling.
The group said the second-wettest year on record in the UK wiped £25 million from its profits and slashed customer numbers and sales of seasonal products.
Kingfisher also took a £39 million hit on the impact of translating euro and Polish zloty sales into sterling, the retailer said.
Chief executive Ian Cheshire said the firm had "a tough year, impacted by unfavourable foreign exchange, record adverse weather in the UK and declining underlying markets in each of our three key territories".
More top news
Rose Leslie and Kit Harington are to marry at Rayne Church in Aberdeenshire.
The star founded his most well-known band with his brother, Dimebag Darrell, in 1981.
Emmerson Mnangagwa was not hurt in the explosion and was evacuated, however, witnesses reported several others were injured.


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Netflix Beats Analyst Expectations, 5.3M Users Added Last Quarter
Netflix has outperformed analyst expectations by posting a positive earnings report for the third quarter, including record-high share prices and a growth on monthly subscribers.
Revenue generated in the third quarter notched US$2.99 billion, an increase of around 30 per cent from the previous quarter.
Net income for the third quarter sits at US$130 million, up from US$52 million in the same quarter last year.
In a letter to shareholders, Netflix said it plans to spend between $7 billion – $8 billion on its content budget in 2018.
“As we move into 2018, we aim to achieve steady improvement in international profitability and a growing operating margin as our success in many large markets helps fund investments throughout Asia and the rest of the world,” the letter said.
Netflix added 5.3 million subscribers this quarter, taking the total number of paying users to around 110 million globally. They also are predicting another 6.25 million new users to sign up to the service this quarter.
Wall Street predicted a 4.5 million subscriber increase for the third quarter.
Shares for the online streaming service also rose, reaching US$202 per share and rising another 1.2 per cent after hours to $205.
The earning and subscriber growth comes as Netflix faces tighter competition from its rivals within the online streaming market. Disney announced in August that it would be removing their content from Netflix and planned to launch their own streaming service in 2019.
Last week Netflix raised their monthly subscription prices in the US, with analysts predicting another price hike to follow in 2018.


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Bank of America Corporation started coverage on shares of PTC Inc. (NASDAQ:PTC) in a report published on Monday, November 6th, MarketBeat reports. The firm issued an underperform rating and a $60.00 price target on the technology company’s stock.
Several other analysts have also issued reports on the stock. KeyCorp reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $74.00 price target (up from $64.00) on shares of PTC in a research report on Thursday, October 26th. Goldman Sachs Group Inc initiated coverage on shares of PTC in a report on Monday, July 17th. They issued a neutral rating and a $62.00 price objective on the stock. J P Morgan Chase & Co reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $68.00 price objective on shares of PTC in a report on Thursday, July 20th. BidaskClub upgraded shares of PTC from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, September 26th. Finally, Evercore ISI set a $65.00 price objective on shares of PTC and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, August 28th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. PTC currently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $65.88.
PTC (NASDAQ PTC) opened at $65.77 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $7,680.00, a P/E ratio of 110.34 and a beta of 1.36. PTC has a 1-year low of $45.57 and a 1-year high of $67.12. The company has a quick ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80.
PTC declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share repurchase plan on Tuesday, September 19th that allows the company to repurchase $500.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the technology company to buy up to 7.8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are generally an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.
In related news, EVP Anthony Dibona sold 10,929 shares of PTC stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $65.25, for a total value of $713,117.25. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Robert Schechter sold 1,128 shares of PTC stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.88, for a total transaction of $75,440.64. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 64,826 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,335,562.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 55,924 shares of company stock valued at $3,627,304. 1.11% of the stock is owned by company insiders.
Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. OZ Management LP bought a new stake in shares of PTC during the 3rd quarter worth $187,542,000. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership bought a new stake in shares of PTC during the 2nd quarter worth $104,303,000. FMR LLC raised its stake in shares of PTC by 31.1% during the 2nd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 6,753,178 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $372,235,000 after purchasing an additional 1,602,999 shares during the period. Newbrook Capital Advisors LP bought a new stake in shares of PTC during the 2nd quarter worth $88,346,000. Finally, TimesSquare Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of PTC during the 3rd quarter worth $51,958,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.99% of the company’s stock.
ILLEGAL ACTIVITY WARNING: “Bank of America Corporation Begins Coverage on PTC Inc. (PTC)” was first posted by BBNS and is owned by of BBNS. If you are reading this news story on another domain, it was stolen and reposted in violation of US & international trademark & copyright law. The original version of this news story can be accessed at https://baseballnewssource.com/markets/bank-of-america-corporation-initiates-coverage-on-ptc-inc-ptc/1762665.html.
PTC Inc is a global computer software and services company. The Company offers a portfolio of computer-aided design (CAD) modeling, product lifecycle management (PLM) and service lifecycle management (SLM) solutions for manufacturers to create, operate, and service products. It offers a suite of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions that enables its customers to connect, manage and analyze data, and create applications.
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Gumtree.com, the UK’s largest classifieds website has recruited Matt Button to its growing team in the newly created role of Head of CRM. Button will work with the Gumtree marketing team and its agencies to devise and deliver a CRM strategy that acquires, nurtures, engages and retains customers across all its categories. The CRM strategy […]
Gumtree drives rebrand home with new motors TV ad
Gumtree, the UK’s largest classifieds website, is continuing its above the line campaign with the launch of a new TV spot championing its motors category.
The ad is the second in a series using the strapline “Opportunity Starts on Gumtree”.
Created by Fold7, the advert takes viewers on an emotional journey with a charming older couple who find a red convertible Volkswagen Karmann Ghia using the Gumtree mobile app, and imagine what adventures the car could bring to them.
The 30-second TV ad will be broadcast from Monday 22nd February across Channel 4, ITV2, Five and Sky and launches across Gumtree’s social media profiles on Friday, 19th February.
- The first TV ad as part of the ‘Opportunity starts on Gumtree’ campaign aired in mid-January, and focussed on the story of a father finding a piano on Gumtree for his young daughter, who later grows up to become a talented and famous musician. It went live at the same time as their rebrand, which saw the launch of a new logo, brand identity, tone of voice along with a wide range of improvements across its mobile and desktop channels.
- Gumtree is also the UK’s number one marketplace for buying and selling private cars with over six million cars on sale last year, averaging at 17,000 new cars for sale every day.
- The positive impact of January’s rebrand has been immediate with a 20 per cent uplift in traffic to the sites motors category so far and an 18 per cent increase in car listings compared with the same time last year.
- As well as TV, the ‘Opportunity Starts on Gumtree’ campaign runs nationally across VOD, radio, traditional and digital out-of-home, print and online. Media strategy and implementation is being managed by the7stars.
- A third TV advert in the series due to go live in March, focuses on Gumtree’s jobs category. The ad will tell the story of a young man imagining himself rise up the ranks starting as a kitchen assistant, a role he finds on Gumtree, to run his own business of a Moroccan inspired pop up food truck.
Earlier this year, Gumtree announced a number of updates to its platforms including a refreshed homepage, and a new cleaner app with even better functionality. Changes coved:
- new 24-hour customer support through email and @helpmegumtree, a Twitter account set up purely to provide customer service
- an easier way to search that means users can find more items based on their location
- a simpler mobile app that lets people post ads quicker
- improved messaging notifications that help users place their ads and manage responses even easier
Katie Crossfield, Marketing Campaign Manager at Gumtree says:
“This next stage of our campaign reinforces our message of highlighting the range of opportunities that start on Gumtree and encourage everyone to imagine what theirs could be. We have had a fantastic response to the campaign so far and wanted to maintain this excitement. With millions of people across the UK driving cars bought or sold on Gumtree, it seemed fitting for the second ad in our series to share this beautifully inspiring story.”
Harry Sheward, Managing Partner, Fold7, says:“This next wave of our ‘Opportunity starts on Gumtree’ campaign shows the power of the creative idea to elevate the brand far beyond its transactional legacy. We wanted to share the previously untold, emotive story that Gumtree has huge positive impact on people’s lives, opening up human connections and opportunities of a lifetime.”
Notes to editors
Creative agency: Fold7
Project name: Motors
Executive creative director: Ryan Newey
Creative director: John Yorke
Art director: Ben Ducker
Copywriter: Lucy Aston
Planner: Nicola Wyatt
Account director: Vicky Hersheson
Agency producer: Imogen Bell
Media agency: 7 Stars
Director: Arni Thor Jonsson
Production Company Producer: Dominic Wilcox
Production company: Dark Energy Films
Editing house/editor: MSE – John Mayes
Audio post-production: Factory
The full press release and high res images are available for download below


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A leading Japanese electronics maker, Panasonic, has been found to have hidden millions of dollars in revenue.
Sources say Panasonic sold its products to a subsidiary in China at prices lower than usual.
The Osaka Regional Taxation Bureau says this was an intentional transfer of income to make it look like the parent company had smaller sales.
The bureau says this ploy allowed Panasonic to conceal 8 million dollars in income for 5 years through March 2009.
Panasonic says it addressed the issue as required after the tax bureau pointed out the unreported revenue.


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Info & Inspo
We believe that information is power and inspiration fuels creativity. If that’s what you’re seeking, you’ve come to the right place.
Catch up on all the latest NEWS about our favorite PR firm. Get inspired by our BLOG – we call it ‘Our Two Cents’ but it won’t cost you a penny for our thoughts. The award-winning Coyne HOTSHEET is a monthly recap of the hottest campaigns out there – and sometimes really out there. If healthcare is your thing, look no further than the Coyne HEALTHSHEET for the latest and greatest in your space. And take a look behind the scenes from some of our biggest ideas in our bingeworthy VIDEO series.
Coyne Public Relations Shines with Nine Finalists at PRovoke Media's Innovation SABRE Awards
Agency's Diverse Campaigns Spotlighted Across Multiple Innovative Categories
Inside the First-Ever PEEPS® Sweet Suite at Home2 Suites By Hilton Easton
With the Easter season right around the corner, PEEPS® and Home2 Suites by Hilton Easton kicked off a “sweet” collaboration. Just a bunny's hop away from the one and only PEEPS® headquarters, PEEPS has created an immersive stay for fans of all ages. The PEEPS® Sweet Suite will transport fans to an Easter wonderland filled with playful PEEPS® decorations, whimsical furnishings, and an irresistible taste of the PEEPS® 2024 flavor lineup. (Client)
Pizza Hut Delivers ‘Goodbye Pies’ for Valentine’s Day Breakups
Pizza Hut launched its "Goodbye Pies" campaign to introduce its new Hot Honey pizza. This campaign targets individuals in New York City, Chicago, and Miami, allowing them to send a free pizza to a soon-to-be-ex partner through a microsite. The initiative acknowledges the trend of breakups around Valentine's Day, dubbed "Red Tuesday."
Marketing Dive 2/8/24
X Games Doubles Down on Women Athletes with New Events and Big-Name Sponsors
Natural skincare brand Thayers hit the slopes at this year's X Games Aspen 2024 as the official skincare brand of the event and entitlement sponsor of the game's inaugural Women’s Snowboard Knuckle Huck competition. While the brand had previously sponsored the Summer 2023 X Games Ventura, it aimed to elevate the partnership this time in a meaningful and impactful way that would change the face of sports. This unique partnership and sponsorship of such a monumental moment in women’s sports history was significant for the brand, specifically due to its fierce pursuit of promoting inclusivity across beauty. (Client)
McDonald’s Leans into Anime With ‘WcDonald’s’ Campaign
McDonald's is embracing anime culture with a new campaign featuring "WcDonald's," offering a special Savory Chili WcDonald’s sauce and 10-piece "WcNuggets," in manga-inspired packaging by artist Acky Bright. The special packaging also includes QR codes taking viewers to digital expressions of magna characters Bright, including a WcDonald’s customer, employee, Transformer-like robot. The WcDonald’s universe reflects and honors fans’ vision and creativity while authentically bringing it to life in restaurants for the first time. The campaign also includes four short anime episodes.
Lundbeck Hopes Humor, Authenticity Will Make Consumers Say Yep
Lundbeck's Say Yep campaign, promoting the migraine preventative treatment Vyepti, aimed to resonate with the daily challenges and stressors migraine sufferers face through a humorous yet authentic lens. It encourages individuals to resist the culture of toxic positivity and unrelenting productivity, promoting a more supportive approach to migraine management.


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New York Fruit Farmers Weathering the 2016 Season
Just Food's Emilie Miyauchi expains the fruit challenges of the 2016 growing season
August 2016: While we're now in the hot and sticky midst of summer, the bizarrely warm March followed by the deep frosts in April may seem distant, but are making big impacts on what we see this year in our CSA shares and at our farmer’s markets.
Why? Vegetable growers can be agile when it comes to responding to abnormal weather and have an arsenal of strategies to coax their seed crops into big beautiful yields, but it is our fruit growers and their orchards that have less flexibility. This is because the biological rhythm of fruit trees to blossom and bear fruit is stimulated by temperature and not time of year. So, if we have a warm March the trees will begin to flower regardless of whether we are safely past the last frost date. And when there is a period of deep frost after those blossoms have set, the blooms are killed along with their potential to become fruit. For the grower, there is little that can be done, but wait for the season to cycle back.
The larger problem is, that for many growers the economic reality is such that one bad season can be enough to put them out of business. That’s part of what we buy into when we invest in sharing the experiences of our local farmers and rural economy. When we invest in our CSA shares and our farmers' markets, we are not just investing in food, we are investing in the people growing it and in the future when food will still be grown by hand with knowledge passed down person to person.
As a CSA member and farmers' market customer, you make it possible for farmers to bear out the learning curve of climate change by providing them the economic stability to develop their skills and infrastructural needs from season to season.


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all set on June 30–July 2, 2023 at Okada Manila The stage is set for the most anticipated event of the year—the biggest sports gathering in the country — the Philippine Sports Expo, happening on June 30–July 2, 2023, at the iconic Crystal Pavilion. It is a grand celebration of athleticism, perseverance, and prowess, where sports stakeholders and enthusiasts from all corners of the country will gather to witness the spectacle of talents, teams, associations and federations, and sports brands. The Philippine Sports Expo is an annual gathering of our country’s sports athletes and stakeholders’ and a celebration of their significant contributions to our sports industry.
The 3-day event will draw in over 20 associations and federations, teams, icons, and celebrities and will showcase extensive collections of notable sports brands, from apparel, shoes, wearables, gadgets, and equipment to sports nutrition, clinics, medicine, supplements, and the latest advancements in fitness and sports science and technology. The expo was set to take place at the sprawling Crystal Corridor Okada Manila, which had been transformed into a vibrant sports paradise. The venue was adorned with colorful banners, showcasing the various sports disciplines that would be featured during the event. Inside, there are multiple brands and booths of sports associations and federations, each dedicated to a specific sport. As the day of the expo arrived, the doors swung open, and a wave of energy swept through the crowd. Athletes, coaches, sports enthusiasts, and families will flood into the Crystal Corridor, ready to experience the thrilling world of sports. In one section, basketball courts were set up with hoops of different heights. Budding young basketball players dribbled and shot, emulating their favorite Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) stars. Coaches from renowned basketball academies offered tips and guidance to aspiring players, nurturing the next generation of Filipino basketball talent. Across the way is a stage where our official national sports and martial arts of the Philippines, also known as “Kali” or “Eskrima,” are situated to create buzz and intensity in the venue. Children of all ages are welcome to join the demo and learn about sports from renowned coaches and players from the Philippine national team. Special appearances by gold medalists in the sports are also planned to inspire young players as well as aspirants and enthusiasts.
In another hall, martial arts took center stage. The air crackled with anticipation as spectators gathered around the elevated platform where local and international martial artists displayed their mastery of different disciplines. From the lightning-fast strikes of Arnis to the powerful kicks of Taekwondo, the crowd witnessed a mesmerizing showcase of the Philippines’ rich martial arts heritage. The expo wasn’t just about traditional sports; it will also present emerging sports and recreational activities. In one hall, a rock-climbing wall towered over the crowd. Climbing enthusiasts, both young and old, will test their skills and conquer new heights. Amidst all the action, there are booths that will promote health and wellness and showcase the importance of proper nutrition, fitness routines, and sports-related products. Display the latest sports equipment, clothing, and technology, enticing visitors with their innovative offerings. Throughout the expo, there will be interactive sessions where attendees can participate in workshops and try their hand at different sports. From billiards to table tennis, volleyball to badminton, the expo provided a platform for people to discover new passions and explore their sporting potential.


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Students who use the software Solid Works are being invited to enter a drawing competition for a paid placement at Innovate Product Design. Visit www.cadcompetition.com for more information.
The campaigning organisation, which comprises over 10,000 members, needed an identity that would align it in the modern cultural landscape.
The Parisian illustrator is well-known for her playfully proportioned women and colourful characters — but where does this style come from?
The app has been given a new visual identity in an attempt let customers order food and drink while maintaining social distancing.
We speak with Usha Raghavachari, director of D-Ford’s London innovation lab, about human-centred design, getting to know customers in forensic detail, and calling “babies” ugly.


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Vancouver – April 16, 2020 – With the support of their union, budtenders at Clarity Cannabis have achieved hazard pay in recognition of their important work on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis. UFCW 1518 became the first union to unionize private cannabis dispensary workers in Canada last February, when Clarity Cannabis workers joined the union.
The recognition comes as a result of internal worker activism. Clarity Cannabis budtenders were quick to mobilize around their COVID-19 concerns. While still waiting to negotiate their first contact, they contacted the union to step in. In addition to negotiating a $2 per hour boost for the budtenders retroactive to March 8, 2020, the workers and their union also secured a return to work benefit, which came before the job-protected leave amendment to the B.C. Employment Standards Act, and scheduling by seniority.
With the federal government declaring medical cannabis production an essential service, and the province allowing cannabis businesses to remain operational during COVID-19, it is important that these workers are recognized for their important work throughout the pandemic.
“We are pleased to see cannabis dispensary workers being recognized during this crisis,” says UFCW 1518 President Kim Novak. “The cannabis industry is an emerging sector and there are many gains to be made for these workers that we will continue to advocate for as we begin bargaining. This premium, together with the strong health and safety measures the employer has put in place to protect workers, are steps in the right direction that we welcome.”
UFCW 1518 continues to advocate for cannabis workers and encourages other dispensaries in British Columbia to recognize the hard work of their staff during the COVID-19 crisis. Budtenders are front line workers and they deserve fairness and protections.
UFCW Local 1518 represents 24,000 members working in the community health, service and hospitality, retail, industrial, and professional sectors across B.C. To learn more about UFCW 1518 and its outstanding work, visit the Local Union’s website.
As the union for cannabis workers, UFCW Canada represents thousands of members in the cannabis sector in British Columbia and the United States and is actively organizing in the cannabis industry across Canada. To read more about this important work, and to learn how you can join the cannabis workers’ union, visit UFCW Canada’s Conscious Cannabis website.


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Self-driving cars are in the late stages of testing in the United States. Besides safety issues, consumer skepticism, the regulatory environment will have a major impact on how quickly and widely that self-driving cars make it in the market.
Given that self-driving cars will/may be sold in the very near future, we need to better understand where the marketplace will be headed. Recently, McKinsey’s Michele Bertoncello and Dominik Weewe published a thought-provoking view of self-driving cars: “Ten Ways Autonomous Driving Could Redefine the Automotive World — The Development of Self-Driving, or Autonomous, Vehicles Is Accelerating. Here’s How They Could Affect Consumers and Companies.”
- “Industrial fleets lead the way.”
- “Car OEMs [original equipment manufacturers face a decision. Automakers worldwide will likely define and communicate their strategic position on AVs in the next two to three years.”
- “New mobility models emerge. While OEMs are developing autonomous vehicles, a variety of other transport-mobility innovations are already hitting the road.”
- “The car-service landscape changes.”
- “Car insurers might shift their business model. Car insurers have always provided consumer coverage in the event of accidents caused by human error. With driverless vehicles, auto insurers might shift the core of their business model, focusing mainly on insuring car manufacturers from liabilities from technical failure of their AVs, as opposed to protecting private customers from risks associated with human error in accidents.”
- “Companies could reshape their supply chains.”
- “Drivers have more time for everything. AVs could free as much as 50 minutes a day for users, who will be able to spend traveling time working, relaxing, or accessing entertainment.”
- “Parking becomes easier. AVs could change the mobility behavior of consumers, potentially reducing the need for parking space in the United States by more than 5.7 billion square meters.”
- “Accident rates drop. By mid-century, the penetration of AVs and other ADAS could ultimately cause vehicle crashes in the United States to fall from second to ninth place in terms of their lethality ranking among accident types.”
- “AVs accelerate robotics development for consumer applications.”
Click the chart to read the full article.
4 Replies to “A Provocative Take on the Future of Self-Driving Cars”
I feel like this idea of self-driving cars is very promising considering the fact that companies such as google, tesla, and even apple are paying interest in making this a reality. My only concern would be the incentive for people who loves driving to give in to the system. What would make people give up driving manually? How would that affect the transportation system as human errors(accidents, etc.) will still occur?
Bring that this article was posted months ago; I know that the main problem for self-driving cars is that they follow traffic laws avidly. Recently many accidents have been happening involving self-driving cars because they stop for pedestrians for actually slow for a yellow light instead of accelerating. I think that they only way that this invention will work is for everyone to have a self-driving car. I do think that the idea would be beneficial, since it would free up time, but it also might increase trips by 20 minutes because they actual follow the 25mph sign. This I feel would annoy the consumer greatly.


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Experts are really not understanding why did the NSW Food Authority cleared the new baby formula from Nestle this month despite hearing several parents complaining that the formulae occurred rashes over their baby’s skin and made them suffer from diarrhea.
Learning more parents complaining same issues, NSW Health Minister Ms. Jillian Skinner has referred all the claims to the health department to seek the matter immediately. She has clearly talked about the claims of the parents that a Nestle product is making their babies sick and the company has now offered refunds to hundreds of angry parents.
According to Ms. Skinner’s statements, she has already referred the matter to the state’s Chief Health Officer and Chief Paediatrician since she has heard the complaints from the frustrated parents.
Regarding the matter, Ms. Skinner said, "Correspondence that I have received on this issue has been referred to NSW Health. The NSW Food Authority is looking into this issue and NSW Health will be advised of their findings”.
It has been reported earlier too, to the general public and along with also reported about the Nestle’s offerings of refunds to parents equalizing the cost they spent for the formula.
But on the other hand, a spokeswoman for Nestle said that the company has reimbursed parents just to maintain its goodwill gesture else the product is free from any food safety issues.
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Blog | NEWS | Switzerland
Is Swiss watch industry facing the worst ever crisis?
- 26th Jun 2020
The Swiss watch industry is severely effected due to the virus-imposed shutdown. As per Ricardo Guadalupe, the head of LVMH brand Hublot, the coronavirus pandemic is expected to reduce the sales of Swiss watches by about 30% this fiscal year.
In an interview published on German newspaper Handel blatt, Guadalupe said,” Over the year the industry will record a decline of 20 to 30%.” He further added,” Consumption has been brought to a complete standstill. It is not clear when and what may be reopened. And then there will be the question of how quickly people’s confidence will return.”
During this crisis, cash flow is the biggest problem faced by several companies as consumption is in a complete standstill now and this may cause some manufacturers to close down.
Guadalupe feels that companies should be able to survive for at least 18 months and they should prepare accordingly. He said that “The strong will survive; the weak will get into real trouble.”
Even Guadalupe’s own brand Hublot was suffering as 80% of its retail network were completely un-operational during the initial weeks of the pandemic. Guadalupe said, “you can apply that to our sales.”
It is expected that because of the pandemic as many as 25000 store closures will be announced this year. The crisis can take a toll on the entire retail sector as it is pushing several companies towards the brink of bankruptcy.
The glut of vacant storefronts is leaving the landlords in a situation where they must either fill those spaces or find a new way to utilize their real estate. Many retailers these days are looking to downsize to smaller store spaces as they are not looking forward to growing via brick and mortar.
In Guadalupe’s view, Chinese customers are becoming more important to them as they have witnessed a 30% sales growth in mainland China. They will concentrate more on expanding in the Chinese market.
The effect of ‘revenge buying’ post-pandemic is boosting up their sales in the Chinese market, but this cannot compensate for the reduction in purchases by the travelling Chinese consumers. Most of the luxury sales is driven by tourism. Chinese customers are no longer travelling to Europe and United States, this is resulting in overall decline in luxury sales.
The effect of revenge buying might not last long so concentrating too much on domestic sales of luxury may prove to be futile at a later stage.


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DUBAI, 13 October 2023 – Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation (Bioeconomy Corporation) is pleased to announce a groundbreaking Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between BioNexus Status company, Glyken Bio Products Sdn Bhd (Glyken), and C1Q2, a brand under Cambio Group Sdn Bhd. This strategic partnership marks the latest milestone in Malaysia’s biotechnology sector, particularly in the bird’s nest industry.
Under the MOA, Glyken is poised to lead the way in conducting innovative research, product improvement, and the manufacturing of bird’s nest-based active glycoprotein products using state-of-the-art biotechnology processes. C1Q2 will assume the role of exclusive marketing and distribution entity, with the exception of Singapore and China, ensuring the reach of Glyken’s glycoprotein products directly to consumers through C1Q2’s expanding network of business associates.
This agreement was strategically conceived not only to enhance local marketing and distribution of Glyken’s bird’s nest products but also to foster a global presence. This partnership further drives Glyken’s cutting-edge biotechnology in the bird’s nest industry product development while underlining their commitment to continuous research and commercialisation through validated biotechnology processes. The collaboration with C1Q2 will offer consumers improved, high-quality, and sustainably sourced products, thus contributing to better business growth in the bird’s nest industry, driven by biotechnology.
Chief Executive Officer of Bioeconomy Corporation, En Mohd Khairul Fidzal Abdul Razak stated, “Bioeconomy Corporation is proud to facilitate the creation of this strategic partnership between Glyken and C1Q2. This MOA is a catalyst for further growth in the bird’s nest downstream bio-based industry, as it is projected to bring an economic impact of USD 6 million in sales and business growth from 2023 to 2024. This is a testament to the immense potential within Malaysia’s biotechnology sector that adds value to the thriving food and wellness industries like bird’s nest while generating substantial financial gains and economic growth for Malaysia. Bioeconomy Corporation will continue to support BioNexus Status companies and match them with strategic partners in their journey towards global recognition and success.”
Chief Executive Officer of Glyken, Mr. Eric Shak, expressed his enthusiasm for this latest collaboration with C1Q2, sharing, “Bioeconomy Corporation’s continuous facilitation and dedicated industry support have been instrumental in making this collaboration a reality. Notably, this partnership opens doors for Glyken as a BioNexus product, providing access to the Gulf as well as Middle East, and North African (MENA) market. This signifies our strong foundation, and we are confident that it will serve as a springboard for further growth in this dynamic industry.”
Chief Executive Officer of the C1Q2 brand, Mr. Nic Lim said, “We express our gratitude to Bioeconomy Corporation, the Malaysian Consulate General, and Matrade for their vital role in this significant event. This marks another achievement in C1Q2’s ongoing growth, expanding sustainable business opportunities for our partners with well-researched and recognised products, as proven and developed by BioNexus Status companies. Through this partnership with Glyken, we aim to contribute to the growth of the biotechnology industry in Malaysia and beyond, supported by the initiatives of Bioeconomy Corporation.”
The agreement was officially signed between Chief Executive Officer of Glyken, Mr Eric Shak and Chief Marketing and Merchandising Officer of C1Q2, Ms. Megannd Koay at the Dubai Agra Middle East (AGRAME) 2023 event, graced by esteemed guests, including the Consul General at the Consulate General of Malaysia, En. Mohd Fadly Amri Aliaman, Consul (Trade) and Trade Commissioner at the Malaysia Trade Centre in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), En. Megat Iskandar Ahmad Dassilah, and Chief Executive Officer of Bioeconomy Corporation, En. Mohd Khairul Fidzal Abdul Razak. The collaboration was realised with the support of Bioeconomy Corporation, the Malaysian Trade Centre, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Securities, Malaysian Consulate in UAE. It is part of a concerted effort to showcase Malaysia’s homegrown technologies and drive market expansion for several BioNexus Status and Bio-based Accelerator (BBA) companies participating at AGRAME 2023, including Glyken Bio Products Sdn Bhd, Pulsy Technology Sdn Bhd, GK Aqua Sdn Bhd, and YHLF Biotech Sdn Bhd. The strategic cooperation aligns with Bioeconomy Corporation’s commitment to optimising opportunities for these companies in the Gulf and MENA regions, in line with the goals of National Biotechnology Policy 2.0 to accelerate commercialisation and establish a global presence for BioNexus Status companies.


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With new servers and a richly funded promotional and development effort, IBM's goal is to overtake competitors Sun Microsystems and Hewlett-Packard to become the top seller of Unix servers, IBM executives said today. Tied into today's announcement also is an attempt to grow beyond the conservative, buttoned-down IBM image and capture some of the fast-paced energy of the Internet.
"We clearly have a new attitude," said Rod Adkins, general manager of the RS/6000 line of Unix servers, sporting a suit with no tie at a company famous for requiring conservative attire. That new "cool" attitude is designed to attract the "Net generation," Adkins said, a quickly growing market segment that extends beyond IBM's more traditional business customer base.
In its effort to become the top seller of Unix servers, IBM is spending much more than $800 million in research, development, and marketing, Adkins said. Part of that money is going toward IBM's first ads for servers on television, the "Magic Box" series, he said.
Though it's been successful in associating its name with e-commerce, IBM has a ways to go to catch up to Sun Microsystems, the company that has most successfully associated its name with the Internet, according to many analysts.
"Sun got out in front in Unix shipments and revenues, and everyone wants to catch them. IBM has been running behind," International Data Corporation analyst Jean Bozman said today. "IBM and HP would like to go back and get some market share at Sun's expense."
The Unix server business still is big for Sun's competitors, however. Each of the three companies has revenues on the order of $4 billion a year, Bozman said.
As previously reported, IBM debuted two new machines today, one at the high end of the line and one at the low end. The top-end S80, code-named the "Condor," is aimed at jobs where hundreds or thousands of users tie into the server and perform lots of transactions.
The low-end B50, code-named "Pizzazz," is designed to be sold in large quantities to Internet companies that need to pack as many basic servers into as few square feet as possible. That system will be priced starting at $4,000 and will include a garden-variety PowerPC processor once found in Apple desktop computers.
IBM also updated its AIX version of the Unix operating system, the basic software that's in charge of a computer. The new software includes many performance improvements, including some built-in features that make it better at serving up Web pages, said Gerry Hackett, vice president of AIX development. The new AIX also has improvements similar to HP's WebQOS product that automatically gives faster service to important customers.
IBM unleashed a flurry of news releases from dozens of software companies supporting the new products. Software support is important for new servers, particularly in buttoned-down business environments, where software must be rigorously tested before it is put to use.
Software partners include Oracle, a top database company. David Dargo said the S80 allows 21,000 users to connect to the system simultaneously, an increase of more than three times over previous IBM computers. IBM, though it has its own database software that competes fiercely with Oracle's, made special adjustments to AIX to enable Oracle to run better, Hackett said.
Thin is in
Skinny servers that can be bolted to racks are all the rage these days. IBM's B50 joins Sun's "Flapjack," Compaq's DS10, and models from HP and others.
Yellow Dog Linux runs on the new IBM servers, the Linux seller said. Linux is popular in some areas because--unlike AIX and other proprietary versions of Unix--a company doesn't have to pay dearly for each copy.
The giant Condor
The S80, about 5 feet wide and 6 feet tall, has a new architecture that uses a high-speed switch to connect four groups of six RS64-III "Pulsar" processors to four banks of memory.
The S80 line is the first to use chips that have copper interconnect technology, which allows more processing power and speed to be packed on a single chip. Each chip has 34 million transistors and runs at 450 MHz, the company said.
In 2001, IBM will debut its Power4 chip, which will use another new IBM manufacturing technology called "silicon on insulator," or SOI, that will be needed to make the chips even faster, said Tony Befi, IBM's vice president of advanced technology development. The Power4 will package two CPUs along with a large chunk of high-speed "cache" memory, will have 170 million transistors, and will run at a speed of more than 1 GHz, he said.
With prices ranging from $290,000 to more than $1 million, the S80 doesn't come cheap. But IBM says that for a given performance level, the S80 costs between a third and half as much as Sun's top-end E10000 server.


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ch carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen, beset by gloom in European showrooms, has warned its core business would make barely any money this year and announced 6,000 job losses to cut costs.
Setting a bleak tone for a slew of earnings reports from European car makers this week, PSA said pricing pressure and falling demand in southern Europe had brought a "more difficult environment."
Recurring operating income at its automotive division will be close to break-even for the full year, compared with a previous target for "clearly positive" profit, the company said.
PSA pledged to reduce costs by €800m (£500m) next year, including the job cuts, and expected 2011 free cash flow to be negative.
"The competitive environment has become more challenging due to pricing pressure, which has intensified in Europe since September, and the unfavourable impact on the country mix of the fall-off in demand in southern Europe," the company said.
Third-quarter sales slipped 1.6 per cent to €9.3bn at the carmaking division, while group sales rose 3.5 per cent to €13.45bn, helped by its car parts group Faurecia, which on Monday posted a 16 per cent quarterly sales rise.
PSA plans to move its model range upmarket and expand abroad to capture growth in emerging markets and reduce its dependence on Europe. Sales outside the region have risen to 41 per cent of the total, PSA said.
"The company's efforts to move upmarket mean it needs to stand firm on price, but the increasing levels of competition in the European market mean the cost of such a strategy is increasing," Barclays Capital analysts said in a note.
"It's hard not to think PSA's position will become even more untenable as the competition seek and achieve greater scale."
PSA shares fell as much as 5.7 per cent in early trading, the biggest fallers on the European index of auto makers and auto parts suppliers , before recovering some losses to close down 0.9 per cent.